A rare case of an adult traumatic bicycle handlebar hernia: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

The term handlebar hernia had been applied to describe the traumatic hernia that result from a handlebar-like blunt objects. The force of the blunt trauma is insufficient to breach the elastic skin, yet, it can cause abdominal wall musculature disruption. Serious intraabdominal injuries can result which may be evident at the time of trauma or may be delayed. Many physicians may misinterpret the irreducible hernia as a hematoma or soft tissues contusion following the trauma. Computed tomography (CT) scan remains the gold standard diagnostic tool for evaluation of those patients. Nevertheless, accurate diagnosis can only be made by repeated, careful physical examination. Herein, we present a rare case of true traumatic bicycle handlebar hernia in an adult lady. She is the first reported case in the literature to be treated conservatively. We also reviewed the literature on true traumatic bicycle handlebar hernia in adult patients.

Keywords: Adult; Bicycling; Hernia.

Fig. 1

(A) CT scan (sagittal view) showing protrusion of loops of bowel through the abdominal wall defect at the skin site of bicycle handlebar injury (arrow). (B) Axial CT scan of the abdomen showing protrusion of loops of bowel through a defect along the medial fibers of the left rectus muscle (arrow). There is fat stranding corresponding to the site of skin handlebar injury (arrow head) indicating an acute event.